What happened: Rafael Fiziev says he is proud of two-time opponent Justin Gaethje and is drawing motivation from Gaethje's title victory as he prepares for UFC Baku. "He's really motivated me with that win and I'm happy," Fiziev said. The comments come ahead of Fiziev's main-event appearance on the card.

Why it matters: Fiziev and Gaethje split a pair of competitive lightweight fights, so seeing his former rival reach the top of the division reframes the stakes of Fiziev's own next outing. A statement win in Baku would strengthen his case to climb back toward the title picture in a crowded lightweight class.

What to watch: Fiziev steps into the Octagon at UFC Baku, where a strong performance would re-establish his standing among the lightweight contenders.